Rising Star Artists

Carl Lester El

http://lucidrealmhosting.com/~risingst/44iyi/index.php?S=5b63361afb7731b3c8003fa723e2fd5d1e2a455c&C=templates&tgpref=3

Bio

Carl Lester El II, is an impressive bassist, drummer, percussionist and guitarist who has been performing since the age of nine. In his earlier years you may have seen him perform in various groups in such notable places as: Newark Symphony Hall, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Manhattan School of Music. Later Carl went on to study Commercial Music at Virginia Union University (VUU) in Richmond, VA. While at VUU, he helped form a group called "Jazz Journey" who played with such notables as Donald Byrd and Rufus Harley. From 1988-1990,

Carl played the bass and drums for CBS recording artist Regina Belle. In 1990, he was also "House Bassist" for the B.E.T. television network show "Sound on Style", hosted by Ramsey Lewis. On this show, he performed with such artists as Earl Klugh, Bobby Watson, Randy Brecker, Joe Sample, Gerald Albright and Mark Whitfield. In 1994, Carl toured with the gospel musical, "How I Got Over". In that year, he also assisted Stu Gardner as studio bassist for the television sitcom "Living Single".

From 1994-1997, Carl was an instructor of bass and guitar for the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Richmond Chapter. He is also one of the founders of the contemporary jazz group F.R.E.N.S. They have played throughout the East Coast and parts of Europe. Their first CD is entitled, "The First Time". F.R.E.N.S. has shared the stage with such notables as Chaka Khan, Doc Powell, Ron Lawrence, Pieces of a Dream and Spyro Gyra. From 1997-2004.

Carl is the Music Director for Sacred Sounds Music, Inc., and was in integral part of "Sisterhood", a hit musical that toured throughout Europe for over 6 years in Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Get the back story about Carl by listening in to our chat on Musician Edition